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00:00 How was your holiday and Christmas and so forth?
00:03 >> It was pretty good.
00:06 Basketball wise, I think we went a few days,
00:10 two days, gave us some time to work on some things to get better at.
00:16 We had productive days, it's good where we don't have anything else on the plate.
00:24 Where we can really come back and go to it sometimes in the day and
00:30 get some real work done.
00:32 >> What was the team's schedule?
00:34 >> Say that again? >> What was the team's schedule during
00:35 the two week break?
00:37 >> So we would go at 1030, go for a couple hours, come back.
00:42 Typically, that was probably a defensive day in the morning and
00:45 come back and scrimmage and play more, or do offensive stuff in the evening.
00:51 >> Can you go back to the last game?
00:54 How long did the guys get a break for themselves and
00:58 how much does that mentally help them moving forward and coming back?
01:04 >> They left for three or four days, three days I think, came back,
01:07 broke down the Kentucky game.
01:11 When we look at it and broke it down,
01:15 initially I thought it was a ten minute spurt where we were good.
01:21 It was actually more than that.
01:23 There was a three or four minute, the end of half where we just fell apart,
01:28 made bad decisions, and they got a big lead off our mistakes.
01:33 >> But does that break mentally your fresh guy?
01:39 Do you see that over the course of time?
01:41 >> No question.
01:42 I think for us to know there are segments in the game,
01:48 or periods in the game where we're really good, we gotta be more consistent.
01:53 And for them to see it, then to step away from it, come back, address it,
02:01 practice that way, trying to be more consistent,
02:05 trying to fix the mistakes that we make.
02:07 I thought they did a good job of that.
02:09 >> Yeah, did you kind of set any areas
02:14 that you thought you had to focus on specifically during the break?
02:18 Given the extra time, and
02:20 then also were there any areas you saw the team take some big strides?
02:25 >> Obviously, we shot selection, sharing the ball.
02:30 There are segments where, or periods during the game where one guy tries to take over
02:35 and we get on forced turnovers or bad shots.
02:38 The more we pass the ball to each other, the better we look as a team.
02:44 The more that we're connected defensively in the gaps and
02:49 helping each other, the more we look like a team, a winning team.
02:53 >> When you look at Virginia, obviously, they're one of those teams that certainly
02:57 lives and dies by their defense, and they're number two right now in scoring defense.
03:01 When you look at them, how much of a challenge will it be to face that difficult
03:05 defense in play?
03:06 >> It's great because everything that I've been talking about from day one
03:11 with this team is geared toward teams like this, where it won't be one pass and
03:16 a shot.
03:17 You penetrate that ball, they're gonna collapse.
03:20 They play a peg line defense, and they force you,
03:24 even run at you at times, multiple guys to make you pass the ball.
03:29 If you don't, you're probably gonna get turnovers or layups.
03:34 They're gonna get layups on the other end.
03:36 So this is geared toward what I've been preaching from day one.
03:40 Good teams that play in gaps that force you to pass the ball to each other,
03:44 we have to do that.
03:46 >> And- >> Go ahead.
03:48 >> Is everybody back healthy and available?
03:51 >> Not yet.
03:51 I think that JJ is getting closer.
03:55 The funny thing about JJ is nobody's really talked about
04:02 the ten points and five rebounds that he's brought to this team.
04:07 We need him back, but he's been working hard to get back, and
04:10 he's pretty close, I think.
04:13 And Dennis is still day to day.
04:15 >> So either one probably won't play against Virginia?
04:18 >> Don't know yet, waiting to see, I'm hoping.
04:21 >> Notre Dame scored a bunch of points off of Virginia.
04:26 I don't know the last time anybody scored at any point.
04:28 You watched that game, I'm sure.
04:30 What did you see out of Virginia that- >> I just saw Notre Dame
04:35 made a bunch of jump shots.
04:36 Some were contested.
04:38 They did a good job, really good job of driving and passing the ball to each other.
04:43 Got a bunch of threes.
04:45 And it's hard to evaluate the game by that game,
04:51 because some of those shots that Notre Dame made was tough jump shots.
04:56 >> Yeah, kind of bouncing off that point.
05:00 We know what a Tony Bennett team is capable of when they're playing at their
05:04 full potential, but they have had those shaky games so far this year against
05:07 Notre Dame and Memphis.
05:08 Is there anything that when you're watching tape about those games maybe
05:11 stands out to us why they haven't been able to play?
05:13 >> Great, great question.
05:15 Those two games were not in Virginia.
05:18 [LAUGH] When we look at it,
05:22 when I watch the team with the guys and we look at the game,
05:26 I ask the team, what do you notice?
05:30 Well, the big thing is they're not at home.
05:33 Do you think they're gonna miss this many shots?
05:35 Do you think they're not gonna be sharp when they're at home?
05:37 You're gonna get their best game.
05:39 They're coming off two losses.
05:41 They're gonna play very well.
05:42 They're gonna play with great energy.
05:44 You gotta be ready for it.
05:45 >> Kind of bouncing off that too, with still looking for that first road victory.
05:51 Obviously, every game's different, but is there anything maybe consistent through
05:54 all these road games that you've seen that you just still need to get over that hump
05:58 to finally get that done?
05:59 >> I just think we have to be a little more consistent during patches.
06:04 Patches where it's gonna be a game of runs.
06:07 We're gonna get a run, they're gonna get a run.
06:10 And so we have to be focused, locked in, attention to detail,
06:14 to make sure that our lows aren't extended.
06:18 That gives them a 8-0 run, 10-0 run.
06:22 We have to be better at that.
06:24 We have to be able to close a gap, keep the game tight, or
06:29 separate from them, take good shots, play defense together, don't give up.
06:33 A lot of times what we're giving up are nothing plays, where a guy didn't see a man
06:38 or didn't see man and ball, got back, cuts layup.
06:41 Or we're in help position, but we don't help and they lay the ball up.
06:45 Those kind of plays.
06:46 >> When you have a guy like McNeely who's sitting 45%, I think, from three,
06:52 what do you have to do defensively?
06:54 He's not the only one that can score, but
06:56 he's the one that when he shoots it, it's pretty much going in.
06:59 >> Great shooter.
07:00 We have to run him off the line because he can make threes.
07:04 He can make contested threes.
07:05 He cannot have space.
07:07 You have to know where he is at all times.
07:09 You can't really just focus on him because the point guard is really good.
07:15 And he creates problems because he gets downhill.
07:19 And it's natural to try to get in the gaps and
07:21 help off of him and give up a three by doing that.
07:26 >> What have you seen, you've got this league games coming up.
07:29 What have you seen out of the league so far?
07:33 >> Hadn't really spent a bunch of time looking at league stuff.
07:36 For me, it's been more game to game.
07:39 I spend these days worried about Virginia.
07:45 And I wish I had the luxury of worrying about Carolina or
07:49 Pittsburgh before we play them.
07:52 I don't.
07:54 We have to make sure that we lock in or
07:56 I lock in to what we have in front of us first.
07:59 >> Anything else for coach?
08:03 All right, keep going.